About My Dance Week:

Once a month, an artist sketches out or writes out (literally) his/her week. One of the hardest things for a young dancer to envision is what a weekly schedule might look like – fitting in paying work, teaching, rehearsing, performing, training, family, friends, relaxation, and more. In particular, since the majority of modern dancers will teach in some capacity, how much teaching makes for "full-time?" Plus, "teaching" includes class time and also prep time. 

How do we balance our dance and non-dance life?

Please join us once a month as we look at different dancers' schedules and ways to balance a life in dance. 

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I am the Head of the Dance Program at Lock Haven University and a Full Professor.  I am a member of several University-wide Committees and Peer Evaluation Committees that meet at scheduled times throughout the semester.  I also am in charge of the full rehearsal schedule which includes overseeing rehearsals every night at LHU Monday through Friday 4:30-9:30p.m. and Sunday rehearsals.  I oversee Guest Artist Residencies and production week.  I am not always present at those rehearsals, but I do stop by consistently to check on the progress of  the student choreographers.  I often choreograph an additional piece for the Dance Minors, and that is a separate rehearsal schedule in addition to the schedule noted below.

As the Owner and Artistic Director of the Lewisburg Dance Conservatory, I oversee 6 faculty, 180 students between 3yrs – 18yrs, 20 classes a week, and all production and managerial needs.

Monday

6:30am Wake up 

7:15am Leave to take 3 kids to school

8:00am-2:00pm Administrative work for the Conservatory & for Lock Haven University

2:45pm Pick up kids from school

4:00pm Leave for the Conservatory

4:30-8:30pm Teach 4 children’s classes

9:00pm Arrive home

9:00-10:00pm Prep lectures/classes for Tuesday

Tuesday

5:30am Wake up

6:15am Leave for Lock Haven University (45 minute commute)

7:00am Arrive at LHU – Prep for classes

8:00-9:15am Teach Basic Ballet Technique (LHU)

9:30-10:45am Teach Modern Technique class (LHU)

11:00-12:15pm Teach Intermediate Ballet Technique (LHU)

12:15-1:15pm Office Hours (LHU)

1:00-2pm Bi weekly Dept. Meetings (LHU)

2:10-3:25pm Teach Dance Composition (LHU)

3:45-4:00pm Commute home

6:00-8:00pm Management tasks at the Conservatory/prep choreography

Wednesday

6:30am Wake up 

7:15am Leave to take 3 kids to school 

8:15am Leave for LHU 

9:00-12:00pm Office Hours (45 minute commute home)

1:00-4:00pm Class and choreography preparation and administrative work

Thursday

5:30am Wake up

6:15am Leave for Lock Haven University (45 minute commute)

7:00am Arrive at LHU – prep for classes

8:00-9:15am Teach Basic Ballet Technique (LHU)

9:30-10:45am Teach Modern Technique class (LHU)

11:00-12:15pm Teach Intermediate Ballet Technique (LHU)

12:15-1:15pm Office Hours (LHU)

1:00-2pm Bi weekly Dept. Meetings (LHU)

2:10-3:25pm Teach Dance Composition (LHU)

3:45-4:00pm Commute home

6:00pm Leave for the Conservatory

6:30-8:30pm Teach 2 children’s classes

9:00pm Arrive home

Friday

6:30am Wake up 

7:15am Leave to take 3 kids to school 

8:00-12:00pm Administrative work for the Conservatory & for Lock Haven University plus class preparation

4:00pm Leave for Conservatory

4:30-5:30pm Teach Tap class at Conservatory

6:00pm Arrive home

Saturdays and Sundays I still work on class preps/grading/curriculum writing/ sometimes running residencies/ and I clean my studio at the Conservatory………and being a Mom!

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What do you enjoy most about your schedule right now?

I enjoy seeing the difference I am making in the lives of my dancers, and I do enjoy that I can schedule what classes I teach and when I teach them.

What would you like to change in your schedule in the future?

I would like to have more time to work on developing my choreography and to take classes for my own growth.

How do you find time for yourself to take class or exercise?

It's very hard, especially living in a rural area, but you have to be determined to make the time.

How do you balance work and family time?

This is also very challenging, particularly being in charge of both programs, because that means your work never ends.  There is always an email that needs answered, reports that need to be submitted, costumes that need to be ordered, grading, and accounting, etc.  I couldn't do it without my husband, Andrew.  It takes definite planning and most importantly, discipline to turn off the phone and shut down the computer.

Can you talk about the choice to be both a professor and studio owner (versus only doing one of these positions)?

The faculty position at Lock Haven University is why we moved to PA.  I was hired to create the dance curriculum, so I designed and developed the Dance Minor.  After living in Lewisburg, PA for a few years, I had many friends and parents ask me to start some children's classes.  There was also nowhere locally for my daughter to take Modern Dance classes.  So in 2007, I created the Lewisburg Dance Conservatory.  The first month I had 70 dancers enrolled, and I have had consistently 180 dancers since the end of the second year.  The Conservatory serves as a wonderful way for me to share my love of dance with the children in my community and employ some of my college dancers and mentor them as future dance educators.  There are some days when I wish I only had 1 job, but I do love working with both populations for many reasons. The rewards are great.

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